Chapter 19

I didn't think that Finley's mad at me. I actually think that I did pretty well considering that—wow... first time ko lang talaga magsorry? Kasi even with my parents, I couldn't even remember an instance na nagsorry ako sa kanila. Wala naman kasi akong maisip na nagawa kong mali—

Because they're always giving me what I want.

Oh, wow.

This day's full of realization.

I planned on going to the grocery to buy some food. I wanted to cook for Finley. I felt bad for ditching him sa may basketball game niya. But before going out, I decided to call my parents first.

Then I realized that I didn't have their number.

Wow...

Kamusta na kaya sila?

I hope they're not having a hard time...

And I hope they know that I'm doing relatively fine and that they shouldn't worry that much about me... if they're worried about me.

I didn't want to bum myself even more. Yesterday had been shitty already as well as almost the entire day today. I just wanted to have a good dinner with my boyfriend in hopes of salvaging the day.

So, I forced myself to get out of the unit and go run some errands. I got some protein for Finley since it seemed like sabay naman kaming magdidinner palagi. I also got some snacks for him as well as 'yung lagi kong nakikita na iniinom niya na protein shake. Ang dami kong nabili for him! Ang hirap palang maging girlfriend ng athlete. Ang daming nutritional considerations.

Since marami pala akong nabili, I kinda asked the kuya guards sa may lobby to help me carry them. I was already thinking of where I'd put them sa cupboard nung biglang bumukas iyong elevator door ulit and—

"Hey," Mandie said.

"Hey," I replied, smiling awkwardly. Living in this condo would be perfect talaga if not for her! Lagi ko na lang siyang nakikita. I couldn't be at peace.

"You did shopping?" she asked and then took a quick peek sa may shopping bags ko. I saw how her forehead creased kaya napa-tingin din ako sa laman nung shopping bag ko.

"Oh... I just started lifting and my trainer said I should consume more protein," I quickly said kasi nakita niya iyong mga binili ko kay Finley.

Mandie just nodded, but I knew that look on her face. I knew she's suspecting that I'm hiding a boyfriend. Whatever. It's not like I'm hiding Finley. If malaman sa school, fine. I won't deny it. Ayoko lang talaga i-announce because what for?

Nung dumating sa floor ko, I just said a quick goodbye and umalis na ako. I forced myself not to think about my jealousy, my parents, and Mandie. I really just wanted this night to end well kasi if not, sobrang stressful naman! And I believe I deserve to have a good part of the day! Grabe kaya iyong stress ko yesterday and earlier today.

I changed clothes lang. Mamaya na ako magsshower since magluluto pa naman ako ng dinner namin ni Finley. I was wearing Finley's PE shirt na naiwan niya here for some reason and black dolphin shorts. I also tied my hair in a messy bun.

I pat-dried the steak muna and then tinabi ko siya sa isang side. I cleaned up one side of the cupboard and nilagay ko doon lahat nung binili ko for Finley. I wanted to buy supplements for him din nga kaya lang I realized na baka may iba na siya na tine-take. I should ask him.

I was in the middle of cooking when I heard a knock on the door. I quickly opened it. I saw Finley's forehead creased, but I didn't have time to think about why because ma-o-overcook iyong steak ko.

"Stop staring," I told him kasi naka-upo na siya doon sa may dining area, but I could still feel him watching me.

"Saan ako titingin?"

"Go play your games."

"Tapos magse-selos ka na naman?"

I threw him a quick glare. "Shut up."

I heard him laughing. This evil guy.

When I finished with my steak, I placed it on the stone board and let it rest muna. I started frying the buttered veggies since okay naman na 'yung mashed potatoes.

I turned my head to look at Finley since he's been suspiciously quiet for a minute... when I saw that he was holding his phone and it looked like he was taking photos of me.

"What are you doing?" I asked kasi baka feeling ko lang 'yon.

"Taking photos," he replied, unashamed.

"Okay... but why?" I asked, a bit confused since I was just cooking? Baka pangit pa iyong angle ko don!

"Why not?" he asked, super unashamed! Like dapat ako pa iyong ma-ashame na nagtanong ako sa kanya kung bakit niya ako kinukuhanan ng picture.

"Ugh. Baka I look ugly. Erase that."

"You look great," he said as he was looking at his phone. "Especially since you're wearing my shirt."

Hindi ko alam if it's because I was near the stove so mainit talaga... but I felt my cheeks heating up because of what he said!

This guy! Super kapal ng mukha!

"Bakit mo kasi iniwan dito?" I replied, trying to keep it cool.

"I left it on purpose," he said.

"What?" I asked, looking at him because his answer kinda confused me.

"So that you'll wear it," he replied. My eyes widened because of what he said. Oh, my whole face definitely looked red now!

"W-whatever," I said because what was I supposed to say after he said that he purposely left his shirt lying around here kasi gusto niya ako makita na suot 'yon?!

I continued with my cooking kahit hindi ako maka-concentrate halos because I knew that Finley was watching me. He's so unashamed talaga! I finished with my buttered veggies. I began cutting the steak when I felt Finley standing behind me.

"What?" I asked because I couldn't concentrate when he's so near. I could smell his cologne. It makes me want to be a koala and just hug him and hang on his limbs.

But then I felt his arms wrap around me.

I froze.

And then my heart began to race inside my chest.

Oh, my god.

This guy's gonna be my cause of death!

I didn't know what to do. Should I ask him to stop that kasi hindi ako maka-concentrate? And didn't he notice that I was literally holding a knife?!

But then again... why would I ask him to stop?

When this feels so good?

"I need to finish this," I told him when three minutes passed and he was still hugging me from behind.

"Finish it," he replied as he nuzzled his head against the space between my neck and shoulder. How was that even possible with his height?

"Alis ka muna d'yan."

"It's too comfortable here."

"Can't be," I told him because of the position of his legs.

"It is comfortable," he said as he nuzzled his nose against my neck like he's trying to breathe me in. My eyes widened because of what he did. Ang lakas na talaga ng tibok ng heart ko. Ganito ba ang feeling ng may cardiac arrest?!

I panicked so I quickly pushed me kasi feel ko aatakihin na ako sa puso. Nung mapa-tingin ako kay Finley, I saw na bahagyang naka-kunot iyong noo niya. I faked a laugh.

"Almost done," I told him. "Also... uh, I got you these. I just don't know if you'll like them. I guess I should've asked you first before I got them. I'm not sure if I can take them back sa store and if pwede siyang palitan," I said as I showed him the content of the cupboard.

I looked at Finley's face. His lips were slightly parted. Bahagya rin na naka-kunot iyong noo niya.

"Uh... you don't have to use them naman—"

"Did you get these for me?" he asked, now looking at me.

I nodded. "Yes. I mean, since you have dinner here and also you pick me up sometimes. I thought lang na—"

But I didn't get to finish what I was saying when Finley quickly kissed me.

"What—"

"I knew I should've asked you first but," he said as he took a step forward. I felt the cold marble countertop against my back as I took a step back. "I couldn't help it anymore."

Finley placed his two hands on both my sides—holding me hostage... but was I really a hostage? When all I could feel was this... rush inside my chest?

"Maia," he called my name. I... really like it when he calls my name.

"W-what?" I replied. I didn't even know that I could still talk given the way he was making me lose my vocabulary whenever he'd do something like this.

"I know you worked hard for this dinner but," he said as he tucked a portion of my hair behind my ear. "Can we kiss first?"

I felt my throat drying. "Uh... h-how long are we going to—"

I couldn't even finish my sentence! How long did he plan to kiss for him to tell me that? Na parang masasayang iyong effort ko to make us dinner?

"Until our lips feel sore," he said as he was straight into my eyes like he really meant what he just said. 

**

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